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Northern Lights activities

You can only admire the aurora at night, of course - so here are our suggestions for things to do in the Arctic winter when not gazing skyward. Work up a sweat with cross country skiing or snow shoeing, or be pulled by huskies or reindeer through a real life winter wonderland. Explore Iceland's bizarre volcanic landscapes, or spend time learning from top astrologers and space centres to understand the science behind the lights.

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Northern Lights activities during the day

You'll keep fit and warm, and really get to appreciate the fantastic scenery that lies beneath the Northern Lights.

Cross-country skiing

The snow-smothered Arctic landscapes can be explored on snowshoes, snowmobiles and 4x4s – but to really cover some ground without relying on noisy vehicles, one of our favourite things to do in the Arctic is cross-country skiing. Cruise around fells and glaciers for a few hours is a workout in itself, and a thrilling way to explore the scenery.

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Be pulled by huskies and reindeer

This classic winter activity is fabulous fun for kids and adults alike. Multi-day husky tours will teach you how to harness and drive your own team of dogs, as well as feed and settle them in a different spot each night. Shorter trails provide a fascinating introduction to sledding, with the silence of the snowy forests broken only by the swish of the sled runners. Reindeers play a pivotal role in Arctic life – youngsters will enjoy Santa-style sleigh rides, and visits to reindeer farms reveal fascinating insights into native Sami culture, as you discover how their life is intertwined with that of the reindeer. Reindeer and husky safaris are common things to do on holiday in Scandinavia, check with your tour company if you would like to try sledding in Iceland or Alaska.

This 300km loop from Reykjavik will delight anyone with an interest in volcanoes, waterfalls, geology, crazy landscapes and photography

Tour Iceland’s Golden Circle

The main highlights include the geothermally active valley at Haukadalur, which contains the Geysir and Strokkur geysers – Geysir gave its name to geysers worldwide. There is also the impressive Gullfoss waterfall, Thingvellir National Park with its tectonic fissures, plus volcanic craters and a geothermal power plant.

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Get your facts right

From scientific explanations of charged particles, to ancient myths about sprinting foxes, the more you know about the Northern Lights, the more you’ll be able to appreciate them. There are many educational centres located around the aurora zone. Finland’s Aurora Kota has aurora projections, astronomy talks and local storytelling, while Reykjavik’s Northern Lights Center has an aurora experience room, interactive displays and tips on nighttime photography. Science fans can take a day trip to the Esrange Space Center in Northern Sweden, which gathers information from its rockets and balloons. Visitors to Fairbanks should stop by the sound and light installation at the University of Alaska’s Museum of the North, and Norway’s Tromsø University Museum also has Northern Lights displays.